The local train and the plethora of emotions
I consider myself as the most blessed person on this earth and am truly grateful for that as well.
Yesterday being a Sunday, Anmol, my son, suggested we take a trip to Gateway of India and thenthe legendary Leopold Cafe. Leopold became world famous after many people were killed when terrorist attacked the Taj.
Being a Sunday and having no car at our disposal, we decided to take a train to CST. Anmol was a little skeptical as I have not travelled in the local for a few years now. However I was excited to get back into it.
As we got into the train, my first reaction was, nothing has changed, why don't we have AC trains yet and why is it still as dirty as it was. Well I tried to look at the good things diverting my mind that it will take us in just 50 minutes.
While going the journey was smooth as there was not much rush and I looked around the number of advertisements on the sides were the same and it is amazing that adds from courses to increasing your penis size is put up there. The spitting of the pan on windows was a little less, which was evident from the color. However it gave a sad feeling that we have not progressed in all these years.
The gateway experience was good, bringing back all the nostalgic memories of colaba causeway being my regular route as I was working during my college days. All the joints from Olympia to Chikita and Delhi Darbar were favorites and most easy access was the fashion street. I especially loved picking up clothes from the road,which are so cheap and so trendy.
I tried to check the prices and was pleasantly surprised that they have remained the same, not reasonable but actually cheap. It is foolish to ever shop with your son if you plan to do more trips with him. So after enquiring a couple of things, I told him I shall come back with the girls. i also made a mental calculation of how much and how fast I can get stuff for 5000/- as I hate to shop and bargain for too long.
We walked back to the CST station and again on the way there was so much to see. We also passed the lane of Cafe Bahar which was a regular breakfast spot for me and Rajesh, before we both parted for work.
Getting into the train again was a little bit of gymnastics, but we got seats and also got to see a lot of people. i realised that for five years when I travelled 30 years ago, this was indeed a University where I learnt so much. Nothing has changed. A woman was talking to her family as if she was sitting in her drawing room, oblivious to the fact that there were at least 200 more people travelling in that compartment. Time just passes as you watch people share newspapers and watch every one who is standing trying to create the 4th seat or wait in anticipation for a place. Newspapers are everywhere and available from co passengers.
What I missed was vendors selling trinkets and fruits and books and pens.
All in all it was a great evening, however Anmol saw my face at the time of getting off the train as it was really crowded and asked me if I was game for it again. I said I do not mind provided I should have taken a seat in the ladies, cause there I would also witness at least one argument.
Yesterday being a Sunday, Anmol, my son, suggested we take a trip to Gateway of India and thenthe legendary Leopold Cafe. Leopold became world famous after many people were killed when terrorist attacked the Taj.
Being a Sunday and having no car at our disposal, we decided to take a train to CST. Anmol was a little skeptical as I have not travelled in the local for a few years now. However I was excited to get back into it.
As we got into the train, my first reaction was, nothing has changed, why don't we have AC trains yet and why is it still as dirty as it was. Well I tried to look at the good things diverting my mind that it will take us in just 50 minutes.
While going the journey was smooth as there was not much rush and I looked around the number of advertisements on the sides were the same and it is amazing that adds from courses to increasing your penis size is put up there. The spitting of the pan on windows was a little less, which was evident from the color. However it gave a sad feeling that we have not progressed in all these years.
The gateway experience was good, bringing back all the nostalgic memories of colaba causeway being my regular route as I was working during my college days. All the joints from Olympia to Chikita and Delhi Darbar were favorites and most easy access was the fashion street. I especially loved picking up clothes from the road,which are so cheap and so trendy.
I tried to check the prices and was pleasantly surprised that they have remained the same, not reasonable but actually cheap. It is foolish to ever shop with your son if you plan to do more trips with him. So after enquiring a couple of things, I told him I shall come back with the girls. i also made a mental calculation of how much and how fast I can get stuff for 5000/- as I hate to shop and bargain for too long.
We walked back to the CST station and again on the way there was so much to see. We also passed the lane of Cafe Bahar which was a regular breakfast spot for me and Rajesh, before we both parted for work.
Getting into the train again was a little bit of gymnastics, but we got seats and also got to see a lot of people. i realised that for five years when I travelled 30 years ago, this was indeed a University where I learnt so much. Nothing has changed. A woman was talking to her family as if she was sitting in her drawing room, oblivious to the fact that there were at least 200 more people travelling in that compartment. Time just passes as you watch people share newspapers and watch every one who is standing trying to create the 4th seat or wait in anticipation for a place. Newspapers are everywhere and available from co passengers.
What I missed was vendors selling trinkets and fruits and books and pens.
All in all it was a great evening, however Anmol saw my face at the time of getting off the train as it was really crowded and asked me if I was game for it again. I said I do not mind provided I should have taken a seat in the ladies, cause there I would also witness at least one argument.
- If you want to observe the different types of emotions, take a Mumbai local train in peak hour.
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